In this issue

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There are at least 1 million substandard homes in New Zealand and rental properties are generally the worst performing of these. We are calling on the Government to create performance standards which ensure warm, healthy, rentals.

Wednesday, December 12, 2010 - 7:00pm, Harbour Street Theatrette (Historic Precinct), Oamaru
A special forum hosted by Kevin Hague MP about the Mokihinui River, including a screening of 'A Tale of Two Rivers' and excerpts from Craig Potton's 'Rivers' TV series, followed by a discussion on the Mokihinui, the proposed dam, and what we can do

Comments by Chairperson of the Welfare Working Group Paula Rebstock on 'Q and A' this week expressed crocodile tears for beneficiaries trapped in poverty, said Green Party Work and Income spokesperson Catherine Delahunty today. Read more...

As the Government presses on with the ACT Party's policy of extending its fire at will law to all employees in their first 90 days on the job, the NZ Council of Trade Unions are highlighting more instances of employer abuse of the existing fire at will law.

Speeches

The Government's Welfare Working Group, in its new report, suggests that it is not listening to the voices of community advocates who have long-term experience of youth unemployment, other forms of unemployment, the domestic purposes benefit, the sickness and invalid benefit, and other challenges. Paula Rebstock from the Welfare Working Group has made some strong statements that suggest that cost cutting is driving this agenda. Watch video or read transcript...

The Green Party will be voting against the Holidays Amendment Bill. We put in a minority report alongside the Labour Party on this bill because it is a big step backwards for the people of New Zealand. Watch video or read transcript...

It is very sad that the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee did not come back with a strong report rejecting this bill, and that the majority of the select committee did not listen and take in the many representations from individual workers and, as has just been mentioned, unions and community organisations, all of whom were opposed to the bill. Watch video or read transcript...

Oral questions

Does he stand by his statement that "the Government is playing its part by spending billions on infrastructure, which is underpinning the employment of thousands of skilled and unskilled people"? Watch video or read transcript...